Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Patients with δ-Storage Pool Disease: A Case Series.

Platelet δ-storage pool disease (δ-SPD) is a platelet function disorder characterized by a reduction in the number or content of dense granules. Reports on δ-SPD are mostly limited to case presentations. We aimed to retrospectively describe a series of patients with δ-SPD to better characterize the disease. We studied 16 patients with congenital or acquired δ-SPD. Lumiaggregometry, α- and δ-granules content, platelet ultrastructure, αIIbß3 integrin, and glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) activation were assessed. Most of the patients generally demonstrate mild to moderate bleeding diathesis. Platelet aggregation studies showed moderate abnormalities with variable profiles, while all the individuals had almost complete absence of adenosine triphosphate release. Mepacrine capture, CD63 expression, and study of dense granules by electron microscopy enabled to distinguish different subtypes of δ-SPD with quantitative or qualitative defect. Surprisingly, significantly decreased GPIb expression levels after platelet activation with thrombin receptor activating peptide 50 µM were found, suggesting that GPIb-impaired mobilization may represent an additional feature of the disorder. In conclusion, δ-SPD represents a complex disorder with various clinical and biological aspects, requiring a great deal of expertise to be properly diagnosed.

[Factor XI deficiency: actuality and review of the literature]. / Déficit en facteur XI : actualités et revue de littérature.

Although two clusters have been identified in France, constitutional factor XI deficiency is a rare disorder. Acquired factor XI deficiency is extremely rare. The management of factor XI deficiency is not staightforward because of the unpredictable bleeding tendency that does not clearly relate to the factor XI level. Other haemostastis parameters have to be taken into account to evaluate the bleeding tendency. We report the cases of a congenital factor XI deficiency, an acquired factor XI deficiency and a von Willebrand disease associated to a factor XI deficiency. On the other hand, some interferences can lead to underestimation of factor XI and we report the case of an interference by lupus anticoagulant. The objective of this review is to better understand how to manage a reduced factor XI level.

MAGT1 deficiency in XMEN disease is associated with severe platelet dysfunction and impaired platelet glycoprotein N-glycosylation.

BACKGROUND: X-linked immunodeficiency with magnesium defect, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and neoplasia (XMEN) disease is a primary immunodeficiency due to loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding for magnesium transporter 1 (MAGT1). Furthermore, as MAGT1 is involved in the N-glycosylation process, XMEN disease is classified as a congenital disorder of glycosylation. Although XMEN-associated immunodeficiency is well described, the mechanisms underlying platelet dysfunction and those responsible for life-threatening bleeding events have never been investigated. OBJECTIVES: To assess platelet functions in patients with XMEN disease. METHODS: Two unrelated young boys, including one before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, were investigated for their platelet functions, glycoprotein expression, and serum and platelet-derived N-glycans. RESULTS: Platelet analysis highlighted abnormal elongated cells and unusual barbell-shaped proplatelets. Platelet aggregation, integrin αIIbß3 activation, calcium mobilization, and protein kinase C activity were impaired between both patients. Strikingly, platelet responses to protease-activated receptor 1 activating peptide were absent at both low and high concentrations. These defects were also associated with decreased molecular weights of glycoprotein Ibα, glycoprotein VI, and integrin αIIb due to partial impairment of N-glycosylation. All these defects were corrected after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight prominent platelet dysfunction related to MAGT1 deficiency and defective N-glycosylation in several platelet proteins that could explain the hemorrhages reported in patients with XMEN disease.

HemosIL VWF:GPIbR Assay Has a Greater Sensitivity than VWF:RCo Technique to Detect Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is frequent in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). For von Willebrand factor (VWF) functional evaluation, ristocetin cofactor activity by aggregometry (VWF:RCo) is considered the gold standard but has limitations, and automated activity measurement has been developed such as the HemosIL VWF:RCo Werfen with particle agglutination (VWF:GPIbR). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the performance of VWF:GPIbR with HemosIL VWF:RCo Werfen (VWF:GPIbR) versus VWF:RCo in patients with thrombocytosis in the context of MPNs (T-MPNs) and in patients with secondary thrombocytosis (ST). METHODS: MPN patients with thrombocytosis >450 G/L (T-MPNs) were compared with patients with ST due to inflammation or iron deficiency. VWF activity (VWF:Act) was analyzed using VWF:RCo or VWF:GPIbR. VWF analysis was completed by analysis of VWF multimers and VWF collagen binding (CB) assay (VWF:CB). RESULTS: A total of 33 T-MPNs and 18 ST patients were included. Compared with aggregometry, evaluation of VWF:Act by VWF:GPIbR led to lower values in T-MPN patients, but also in ST patients. Interestingly, although the VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio did not reveal differences between T-MPNs and ST patients, the VWF:GPIbR/VWF:Ag ratio analysis allowed us to suspect AVWS only in T-MPN patients. Using the distribution of VWF multimer analysis and VWF:CB, we here demonstrated that VWF:GPIbR allows AVWS diagnosis in nine T-MPNs as opposed to aggregometry. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of VWF:Act using VWF:GPIbR has a greater sensitivity compared with aggregometry to detect AVWS in T-MPN patients.

Proteinuria Increases the PLASMIC and French Scores Performance to Predict Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Patients With Thrombotic Microangiopathy Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: PLASMIC and French scores have been developed to help clinicians in the early identification of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Nevertheless, the validity of these scores in thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) cohorts with low TTP prevalence remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate their diagnostic value in routine clinical practice using an unselected cohort of patients with TMA. We also analyzed the value of adding proteinuria level to the scores. METHODS: We retrospectively included all patients presenting with a biological TMA syndrome between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2019, in a tertiary hospital. TMA etiology was ascertained, and scores were evaluated. Modified scores, built by adding 1 point for low proteinuria (<1.2 g/g), were compared with original scores for TTP prediction. RESULTS: Among 273 patients presenting with a full biological TMA syndrome, 238 were classified with a TMA diagnosis. Complete scores and proteinuria level were available in 134 patients with a TTP prevalence of 7.5%. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of PLASMIC and French scores for TTP diagnosis was 0.65 (0.46-0.84) and 0.72 (0.51-0.93), respectively. AUC of modified PLASMIC and French scores was 0.76 (0.59-0.92) (P = 0.003 vs. standard score) and 0.81 (0.67-0.95) (P = 0.069 vs. standard score), respectively. Specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and positive likelihood ratio of high-risk scores were significantly improved by adding proteinuria level. CONCLUSION: PLASMIC and French scores have low predictive values when applied to an unselected TMA cohort. Including proteinuria level in the original scores improves their performance for TTP prediction.

Dabigatran Level Before Reversal Can Predict Hemostatic Effectiveness of Idarucizumab in a Real-World Setting.

Background: Idarucizumab has been included in guidelines for the management of bleeding or surgical procedure in dabigatran-treated patients without need for biological monitoring. The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of dabigatran plasma level before reversal to test the hemostatic efficacy of idarucizumab. The secondary objectives were (i) to analyze plasma dabigatran level according to the risk of rebound and (ii) to evaluate the incidence of post-reversal non-favorable clinical outcomes (including thromboembolism, bleeding, antithrombotic, and death) and antithrombotic resumption. Methods and Results: This was an observational multicentric cohort study, which included all French patients who required idarucizumab for dabigatran reversal. Between May 2016 and April 2019, 87 patients from 21 French centers were enrolled. Patients received idarucizumab for overt bleeding (n = 61), urgent procedures (n = 24), or overdose without bleeding (n = 2). Among patients with major bleeding (n = 57), treatment with idarucizumab was considered effective in 44 (77.2%) of them. Patients who did not achieve effective hemostasis after reversal had a significantly higher mean level of plasma dabigatran at baseline (524.5 ± 386 vs. 252.8 ng/mL ± 235, p = 0.033). Furthermore, patients who did not achieve effective hemostasis after reversal had less favorable outcomes during follow-up (46.2 vs. 81.8%, p = 0.027). ROC curve identified a cutoff of 264 ng/mL for dabigatran level at admission to be predictive of ineffective hemostasis. No plasma dabigatran rebound was observed after reversal in patients with dabigatran plasma level < 264 ng/mL at baseline. Conclusion: This retrospective study shows that dabigatran level before reversal could predict hemostatic effectiveness and dabigatran plasma rebound after idarucizumab injection.

First description of an IgM monoclonal antibody causing αIIb ß3 integrin activation and acquired Glanzmann thrombasthenia associated with macrothrombocytopenia.

Essentials Acquired Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is generally caused by anti-αIIb ß3 autoantibodies. We report the case of a man with an acquired GT phenotype associated with macrothrombocytopenia. Perturbed platelet function were associated with an activating anti-αIIb ß3 IgM autoantibody. This novel clinical entity raises interesting questions about the αIIb ß3 integrin signaling. SUMMARY: Background Acquired Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a bleeding disorder generally caused by anti-αIIb ß3 autoantibodies. Objectives We aimed to characterize the molecular mechanism leading to a progressive GT-like phenotype in a patient with chronic immune thrombocytopenia. Patient, Methods, and Results The patient suffered from repeated episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding; further studies indicated a moderate platelet aggregation defect. A few months later, platelet function showed abolished aggregation using all agonists, but normal agglutination with ristocetin. No platelet-bound antibodies were detected, but the presence of large amounts of an IgM type antibody detected together with αIIb ß3 in the patient permeabilized platelets suggested that this IgM was an autoantibody causing the internalization of the complex. This was confirmed by the fact that the patient IgM bound to normal platelets but not to platelets from GT type I patients. Moreover, patient's plasma activated αIIb ß3 on controls' platelets as evidenced by increased PAC-1 binding. We also demonstrated that the patient plasma triggered αIIb ß3 outside-in signaling, as ß3 Tyr773 and FAK were phosphorylated, and increased the rate of actin polymerization in resting platelets reflecting an impairment of cytoskeletal reorganization. Because different signs of dysmegakaryopoiesis were also observed in our patient, we evaluated the ability of its serum to impair proplatelets formation and showed that it significantly decreased the number of proplatelet-bearing megakaryocytes in controls' bone marrow stem cells culture compared with normal serum. Conclusions We present the case of a patient with a progressive and severely perturbed platelet function associated with the presence of an IgM activating autoantibody directed against αIIb ß3 .

[New perspectives on the role of αIIbß3 integrin in defective megakaryopoiesis]. / L'intégrine αIIbß3 - Une actrice insoupçonnée dans la formation des plaquettes sanguines.

In recent years, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in platelet production (megakaryopoiesis) has extremely increased, thanks to the study of genetic diseases causing inherited thrombocytopenia. Among the wide variety of transmembrane receptors covering the platelet membrane, αIIbß3 integrin is the major one, allowing platelets to aggregate upon the occurrence of vascular breach. Platelet counts are usually normal in patients with αIIbß3 deficiency, suggesting that its role for normal platelet production and morphology is very limited. However, recently, new clinical observations of genetic diseases provided evidence against this hypothesis, bringing new data on the role of αIIbß3 integrin in defective megakaryopoiesis.

Successful Coronary Artery Bypass in Types 2M and 2N von Willebrand Disease.

von Willebrand disease is a quantitative or qualitative deficiency of von Willebrand factor (VWF) that results in a significant risk of bleeding during surgical procedures unless precautions are taken. We describe for the first time 2 patients with type 2M and type 2N von Willebrand disease, respectively, who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Because of their high cardiovascular risk factors, replacement therapy was given at low doses with minimal postoperative bleeding.